During the House energy hearing on 3 March, lawmakers should consider ways to move toward lifting US trade restrictions on crude oil this year, according to API.
鈥淭he US energy revolution has transformed the global landscape, creating countless economic opportunities for American workers and consumers,鈥� said API Executive Vice President for Government Affairs Louis Finkel. 鈥淭o continue growing as an energy superpower, America must have policies that reflect modern energy markets, rather than policies based on a market that existed in the 1970s. Study after study shows that free trade in crude oil will mean more jobs, downward pressure on fuel costs, and could reduce the power that foreign suppliers have over our allies overseas.
鈥淭oday鈥檚 hearing is not the first to explore US energy exports, but it marks a fresh opportunity for a new Congress to move quickly this year and harness the wide-ranging economic benefits free trade. Our competitors overseas are working hard to lock-in their economic advantages as exporters, and we must act now to ensure US producers can compete effectively for a share of the global market. It鈥檚 the smart thing to do for US consumers, for US workers, and for the energy security of America and its allies.
鈥淭he consensus among policy experts, economists, and analysts is overwhelmingly in favour of exports, and we鈥檙e sharing that information with API鈥檚 extensive grassroots network to ensure that lawmakers hear from their constituents. The Senate has already scheduled their next hearing on exports, and we鈥檙e optimistic that this issue will continue to gain bipartisan momentum in the months ahead.鈥�
API is the only national trade association representing all facets of the oil and natural gas industry, which supports 9.8 million US jobs and 8% of the US economy. API鈥檚 more than 625 members include large integrated companies, as well as exploration and production, refining, marketing, pipeline, and marine businesses, and service and supply firms. They provide most of the nation鈥檚 energy and are backed by a growing grassroots movement of more than 30 million Americans.
Adapted from press release by